POS1391-HPR HEALTH PROFILE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS: A BRAZILIAN CITIZENS SURVEY
Authors: P. Santana, I. M. B. De Souza, M. Antunes, M. Pinheiro, A. Cruz, P. Januário, A. Pasqual Marques
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease, multisystemic, of unknown cause, autoimmune, with periods of exacerbations and remissions, which may generate limitations in functional and occupational capacity. Brazil has high prevalence rates of SLE (20 to 150 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). The survival rate of these patients has increased in the last century (from 50% to 95%). This context raises questions about the social, health, and quality of life profile of the patient. <h3>Objectives</h3> To profile and evaluate the quality of life of patients with SLE residing in Brazil. <h3>Methods</h3> This is a cross-sectional study, in subjects aged ≥18 years, diagnosed with SLE and residing in Brazil. We applied online form through Google Forms and collected sociodemographic (age, sex, marital status, years of study, occupational activity, and self-reported race), clinical (Body Mass Index (BMI), duration of disease, presence of comorbidities and use of corticosteroids) and quality of life data through the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Quality of Life (SLEQOL). Data analysis was descriptive (mean, sample standard deviation, and percentage). <h3>Results</h3> 642 volunteers were female (98.29%), aged between 18 and 73 years, and BMI of 27.3 ± 45.8. Greater representation from the Southeast region (60.12%); self-reported white race (54.98%); married marital status (39.88%), education with ≥12 years of schooling (64.64%), have already withdrawn from occupational activity (74.92%) and changed profession after SLE diagnosis (37.85%). The duration of SLE was ≥ 5 years (45.64%) and they have other diagnosed comorbidities (63.24%), and they use corticoid (62.62%). Quality of life had a score of 137.72 ± 51.89, closer to the minimum score (minimum score = 40 and maximum = 280; whereby, higher values correspond to worse quality of life). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Most of the sample are female as already pointed out in other studies; the most recurrent self-reported race was white, unlike studies that the Afro-descendant race was more frequent. Throughout their illness, patients encounter physical, psychological, and social challenges, reflecting on their functional capacity, interfering with occupational activity (leaves of absence and sometimes changing professions) even with education ≥12 years of study. These changes can interfere with health-related quality of life. Care strategies aimed at decreasing the impact of the disease for the patient and his family are needed; as well as, future studies to explore non-drug therapeutic resources for an integral care of the patient. <h3>References</h3> [1]Baker K, Pope J. Employment and work disability in systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2009; 48: 281–84. [2]Freire EA, Guimarães E, Maia I, Ciconelli RM. Systemic lupus erythematosus symptom checklist cross-cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese language and reliability evaluation. Acta Reumatol Port. 2007; 32(4):341-4. [3]Pons-Estel GJ, Alarcón GS, Scofield L, Reinlib L, Cooper GS. Understanding the epidemiology and progression of systemic lupus erythematosus. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2010; 39: 257–68. <h3>Acknowledgements</h3> This work has been supported by the following Brazilian research agencie: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.